Blankenbush: 'This Is A Poorly Written Bill'

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North country Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R. - 117th District) says he's voting against the bill that would give New York the toughest gun laws in the nation.

In a telephone interview from Albany, Blankenbush said the measure is just too important to be "shoved" through the Legislature.

"This is a poorly written bill and we should have had time to take a look at it," he said.

Blankenbush said lawmakers received the bill last night, it was filled with mistakes and it offers no chance for public discussions.

"We should be meeting with our DAs (district attorneys), our police departments, mental health people," he said. "We should be doing all of those things before we take a vote to take Second Amendment rights away from law abiding citizens."

Click on the picture to watch Blankenbush's entire interview.

After the Legislature approved the gun control law, Blankenbush issued the following written statement:

"Undoubtedly, all of us are searching for understanding in the aftermath of the heartbreaking tragedies in Newtown, Connecticut and Webster, New York, and we are looking for ways to offer security for our families and loved ones in a seemingly disconnected and dangerous world. Gun violence, however, will not be solved with bans and restrictions that can be easily circumvented by motivated criminals.

"Everything about this bill, especially how it was brought to us for a vote by Gov. Cuomo's Message of Necessity, smacks of 'old Albany,' where secretive deals are hashed out between 'three men in a room.' We were given little time to review this rushed and flawed bill, and the public wasn't afforded the opportunity to weigh in on this legislation. Due to the haste in which this bill was forced through the legislature we've discovered errors, like how it would be illegal for law enforcement to enter school grounds with a firearm. Such egregious errors will require the governor to submit Chapter Amendments to correct them.

"This matter is too important to rush through without careful consideration. Again, I am reminded of my great responsibility to uphold the rights outlined in our Constitution and to act cautiously in these matters."